South Asia Correspondent, The Economist
South Asia correspondent for the Economist magazine
PROFILE
James Astill
Guest
FROM James Astill
To the Point
Al-Qaeda Regroups in the Mountains of Pakistan Terrorists trained in northwest Pakistan have wreaked havoc in Europe. They're a real threat to the US and its interests. Since September 11, President Pervez Musarraf has received $10 billion in US aid, but the region where Osama bin Laden is thought to be hiding out is said to be more dangerous than ever. The newly elected government has the incentive to neutralize terrorist leaders, unless it's diverted by political infighting. We hear about bin Laden's approval ratings and talk to a Pakistani politician who has survived two suicide bombings, as the US reviews where the money went.
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To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.